Cannabis and CBD Beauty

With the winter weather coming around, you’re probably finding yourself reaching for your skin serums and lotions more often to deal with the harsh cold and dryness. Why not elevate your products with some CBD oil?

What is CBD?

CBD is the abbreviated term for cannabidiol, which is the second most common active ingredient found in cannabis after THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it won’t give you that typical cerebral stoner high that is commonly associated with weed. Those effects are the result of THC’s effects, which is indeed psychoactive. CBD, on the other hand, has a plethora of other effects and benefits, many of which have been gaining particular attention in the medical and health and wellness communities! It can be found in cannabis flowers, where it does tend to be less potent as the plants carry more THC. So CBD is often extracted and then distilled into more pure and potent concentrated forms like oils and tinctures to make the most use of its effects! 

The Benefits of CBD

Studies have shown that CBD is beneficial in offering calming, therapeutic and pain relieving effects. It targets symptoms and ailments such as chronic pains, cancer, stress, depression and anxiety disorders and many more. It is widely used by both cannabis and non-cannabis smokers in these settings, though research is ongoing in order to realize the full extent of these effects. On the other hand, CBD has already really blown up in the beauty and health and wellness communities for its amazing effects for your skin! You might have seen trending products that are infused with cannabis CBD in creams and lotions, serums, and even in bath products! But how does it actually improve your skin health?

CBD and Skincare

The calming and healing nature of CBD has made it a perfect, all natural product for health and wellness usage. It gives your mind, body and spirit the peace it needs! So it’s a bit of an extra added bonus that it is also great for your skin health! With beauty and product trends moving away from harsh chemicals, the fact that CBD is a naturally occurring substance makes it an immediate competitive contender for your skincare. It also just so happens to be eco-friendly and perfectly safe–and legal–even in larger quantities. It is extremely antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, so would naturally provide relief from redness and irritation. This includes a number of  skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and swelling, pain, or redness from breakouts. It aids in the prevention of acne as it helps regular oil production, helps heal scarring, and is also effective in providing skin hydration!

Tinctures and Oils

When you are shopping for CBD, you’ll notice these concentrated products are labelled as either tinctures or oils. Both tinctures and oils are liquid forms of CBD extracts. They ultimately work in the same way and offer the same effects, though the manner in which they are produced is what sets them apart. A tincture, for example, is made by soaking the cannabis plant materials in alcohol. Using that alcohol as a solvent, the cannabinoid materials are extracted as the plant is soaked. So, the end product has a high alcohol content as well. In these instances, THC may be also extracted, as well as terpenes, which are aromatic compounds found in the plant. Oils, on the other hand, are simply just that: extracted oil. During extraction processes for oils, THC and terpenes are often removed so that the final product here is pure CBD! So no matter what your personal use looks like, there’s a bit of variety for everyone.

Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil

Sometimes you might also see products labelled as hemp oil with CBD in it. The only major difference in these cases from standard labelled CBD oils is that the oil is extracted from hemp plants. Hemp is still a type of cannabis plant, but contains less than 0.3% THC. There are also oils that are labelled as hemp seed oil. These on their own have skincare benefits as well, though they do not contain CBD.

How You Can Use CBD To Improve Your Skin Health

As CBD is extracted and concentrated into oils, it is often applied topically. It can be used, infused or consumed in a variety of other different ways like vaping or candy edibles depending on your needs and preferences! When it comes to skincare, however, it is applied topically in its liquid form directly to the skin. Already have a favourite skin product? Why bother trying other products when you can simplify the process and infuse CBD into your existing routine products and daily regimen! Use a dropper that comes with your CBD bottle to add a few drops to your favourite serums, balms or lotions. If you are a fan of face mists, add a couple drops and give the bottle a good shake! Wanting intense treatment for a specific area of skin? Apply oil directly to the target area! Begin with adding minimal amounts, and build up as you go depending on your needs. It may take a few days before seeing results, so do wait a bit in between adding more drops.

Conclusion

The world is your oyster! Have fun with it and personalize your own skin products by incorporating CBD and its benefits into your routine!